Union leaders are recommending that their members reject Save Mart Supermarkets’ “last, best and final” contract offer.

A May 19 contract extension with the union required Save Mart to submit its “last, best and final offer” by May 29 if the parties did not agree to a final contract, said Save Mart spokeswoman Alicia Rockwell.

The Modesto-based supermarket chain has met 50 different times over eight months during negotiations, she said, “all in good faith, with the objective of securing the competitiveness of our company and protecting quality jobs for our employees.”

The United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 5, 8 and 648 received the retailer’s offer, but it “is not acceptable and we would not recommend ratification by the membership,” Jacques Lovell, Local 8 president wrote in a memo to union members and shared on the union’s website.

The union has offered to meet with Save Mart on June 11 through 13 “to continue negotiations with the intent of making every effort to reach a settlement,” he said.

“We do understand the company’s frustration with how long this process has taken but we believe now is not the time to abandon the painstaking progress both sides have made and veer towards an unnecessary conflict.”

The union also is trying to sort things out with the Raley’s Inc. supermarket chain based in West Sacramento after its members voted to support a strike if and when the union decides on that course of action.

Representatives of Raley’s and the union have scheduled a bargaining session with a federal mediator for Friday.